| Fly International Luxurious Art | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 28, 2015 | |||
| Recorded | 2012–2015 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 42:45 | |||
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| Producer |
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| Raekwon chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Fly International Luxurious Art | ||||
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Fly International Luxurious Art is the sixth studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon. The album was released on April 28, 2015, by Ice H2O Records and Caroline Records. The album was supported by the singles "All About You", "Soundboy Kill It" and "Wall to Wall".
On January 1, 2013, Raekwon announced that his next studio album would be titled "F.I.L.A.", an acronym for "Fly International Luxurious Art", and said it would be released in the second quarter of 2013. [1] [2] On February 15, 2013, Raekwon said the album was almost finished. [3]
Raekwon said that the album is an ode to his "stylish" side and the album will contain elements of "glamour, lifestyle and fashion." [4] [5] He said he is attempting to appeal to a broader global audience and have this album become a "worldwide success". [6] On July 22, 2013, he told MTV he was still working on the album, along with the upcoming Wu-Tang Clan album with the former due for a release near the end of the year. [7]
The album's recording process began in late 2012. For the album, he collaborated with artists such as Estelle, Melanie Fiona and Akon. Production on the album was handled by producers such as Jerry Wonda, RoadsArt and Frank G. among others. [8] In a late-February 2014 interview, Raekwon stated that Akon and Snoop Dogg would be featured on the album. He also confirmed that the album was close to being complete. [9]
Raekwon announced on November 30, 2012 that he would soon release an EP titled Lost Jewlry . [10] The EP was released for free by his label Ice H2O on January 15, 2013. The EP featured guest appearances from Faith Evans, Freddie Gibbs, Altrina Renee and Maino, and includes production from Scram Jones, Buckwild and more. [11]
On March 7, 2013, Raekwon announced that the album would be released in June 2013. [12] On April 30, he announced that the album would be pushed back until September 2013. [13] Then once the first single was released he confirmed a pushback until January 2014 during an interview in late August 2013 with ABC News. [14]
Starting June 14 through June 30, 2013, Raekwon toured across Canada on the Canadian leg of his "Fly International Luxurious Art Tour". That legs opening act is the band Masters of Ceremonies. [15] Following that, he toured the United States and Europe with the rest of the Wu-Tang Clan on their 20th Anniversary Tour. [7] On June 20, 2014, he announced that the album would be released on September 16, 2014. [16] However, on October 13, 2014, Raekwon confirmed via Twitter that the album was pushed back to 2015 in order to focus on the Wu-Tang Clan's latest album A Better Tomorrow . [17]
The album's first single "All About You" featuring Estelle and produced by Jerry Wonda was released on August 20, 2013. [18] The music video for "All About You" featuring Estelle had been shot in New York in June 2013. It was released two days after the song's retail release, via Fuse. [19] [20]
On June 6, 2013, "Soundboy Kill It" featuring Melanie Fiona was premiered. [21] [22] [23] On December 10, 2013, "Soundboy Kill It" was released to iTunes as the album's second single. [24] On March 17, 2015, the album's third single "Wall to Wall" featuring French Montana and Busta Rhymes was released. [25]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [26] |
| The A.V. Club | B− [27] |
| Consequence of Sound | B− [28] |
| HipHopDX |  [29] |
| NME | 8/10 [30] |
| The Observer | [31] |
| Q | [32] |
| Rolling Stone | [33] |
| Slant Magazine | [34] |
| Spin | 7/10 [35] |
Fly International Luxurious Art received positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from critics, the album received an average score of 63, which indicates "generally favorable reviews", based on 17 reviews. [36] Michael Madden of Consequence of Sound said, "What F.I.L.A. lacks in overt emotional content is made up for with the pleasure Raekwon takes in listing off his lavish purchases and seemingly constant jet-setting. Still, he lets you know that his darker days aren’t that far behind him, and that those tribulations helped him become the uncompromising artist he is today." [28] Homer Johnsen of HipHopDX said, "F.I.L.A. had two years of hype for what amounts to an album with little true cohesion. The finished product doesn’t quite match the overwhelming talent and legacy of the legendary emcee." [29] Corbin Reiff of The A.V. Club said, "For all its unintended sonic drawbacks, Fly International Luxurious Art goes a long way to remind everyone of why Raekwon is one of the greatest to ever wield a microphone. His flow is masterful, his lines are sharp, and his verbiage is as dense and intricate as it’s ever been." [27]
Jesse Cataldo of Slant Magazine said, "Fly International Luxurious Art maintains some level of general interest through a stacked guest list, with visitors as varied as Snoop Dogg, A$AP Rocky, Busta Rhymes, and 2 Chainz, but none of them do more than distract from the overall atmosphere of paltry unevenness." [34] Justin Ivey of XXL said, "Fly International Luxurious Art ultimately suffers from its inability to connect with any particular audience. It makes for a very uneven listening experience as the album is unable to find any cohesive sound or theme." [37]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro" | Jerry Wonda | 1:09 | |
| 2. | "4 in the Morning" (featuring Ghostface Killah) | Scram Jones | 3:21 | |
| 3. | "I Got Money" (featuring A$AP Rocky) |
|
| 3:21 |
| 4. | "Wall to Wall" (featuring French Montana and Busta Rhymes) |
|
| 5:02 |
| 5. | "Heated Nights" |
| Frank G | 3:02 |
| 6. | "F.I.L.A. World" (featuring 2 Chainz) |
|
| 4:21 |
| 7. | "1,2, 1,2" (featuring Snoop Dogg) | Scoop DeVille | 3:20 | |
| 8. | "Live to Die" |
| S1 | 3:12 |
| 9. | "Soundboy Kill It" (featuring Melanie Fiona and Assassin) |
|
| 3:07 |
| 10. | "Revory (Wraith)" (featuring Rick Ross and Ghostface Killah) |
| Bluerocks | 3:24 |
| 11. | "All About You" (featuring Estelle) |
| 3:25 | |
| 12. | "Nautilus" |
| Scram Jones | 2:39 |
| 13. | "Worst Enemy" (featuring Liz Rodrigues) |
|
| 3:43 |
| Total length: | 42:45 | |||
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14. | "Internationalism" |
| Scram Jones | 2:56 |
| Total length: | 45:48 | |||
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| Chart (2015) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 [38] | 60 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [39] | 7 |
| US Top Rap Albums (Billboard) [40] | 6 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard) [41] | 4 |
| US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard) [42] | 14 |
Wu-Tang Clan is an American hip hop musical collective formed in Staten Island, New York City, in 1992. Its members include RZA, GZA, Method Man, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah, Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and, until his death in 2004, Ol' Dirty Bastard. Close affiliate Cappadonna later became an official member. They are credited for revitalizing East Coast hip hop and are considered one of the greatest hip hop groups of all time.
Corey Woods, better known by his stage name Raekwon, is an American rapper. He rose to prominence as a founding member of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan, which achieved mainstream success following the release of their debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang , in 1993. Raekwon would subsequently pursue a solo career, releasing his first solo album, entitled Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., in 1995. The album received critical acclaim, and is regarded by many critics as one of the greatest hip-hop albums of all time, as well as a staple of 1990s rap.
Dennis David Coles, better known by his stage name Ghostface Killah, is an American rapper and a member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. After the group achieved breakthrough success in the aftermath of Enter the Wu-Tang , the members went on to pursue solo careers to varying levels of success. Ghostface Killah debuted his solo career with Ironman, which was well-received by music critics, in 1996. He has enjoyed continued success in the years that have followed, releasing critically acclaimed albums such as Supreme Clientele (2000) and Fishscale (2006). His stage name was taken from one of the characters in the 1979 kung fu film The Mystery of Chess Boxing. He is the founder of his own record label, Starks Enterprises.
Jason Richard Hunter, better known by his stage name Inspectah Deck, is an American rapper and hip hop producer. He is a member of the groups Wu-Tang Clan and Czarface.
The Infamous Mobb Deep is the eighth and final studio album by American hip hop duo Mobb Deep, which is composed of Havoc and Prodigy. The album was released on April 1, 2014, by Prodigy's Infamous Records and Sony's RED Distribution. The Infamous Mobb Deep is a double album that consists of one disc of new original music and another of unreleased tracks from the recording sessions from their second studio album The Infamous (1995). The album had been in development since 2011, but was delayed by a feud that occurred between Havoc and Prodigy during 2012. However, they shortly reconciled.
Bronze Nazareth is an American record producer and rapper associated with the Wu-Tang Clan. He has a solo career as an emcee and is also a part of the hip-hop group Wisemen along with his brother Kevlaar 7.
Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... Pt. II is the fourth studio album by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon, released September 8, 2009, on Ice H2O/EMI Records in the United States. The album experienced numerous delays to its release due to Raekwon's approach of continual re-writing, as well as distribution issues with his record labels. Serving as the sequel to his critically acclaimed debut album Only Built 4 Cuban Linx... (1995), Pt. II maintains many of the themes covered on its predecessor, and features guest appearances from several Wu-Tang Clan members, as well as Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss and Beanie Sigel.
Blackout! 2 is the second studio album by American hip hop duo Method Man & Redman. It was their first collaborative album in eight years. The album was released on May 19, 2009 under Def Jam. It debuted at #7 on the U.S. Billboard 200 and at #64 on the French Album Charts. The album has sold 178,608 copies in the United States by December 12, 2010, according to SoundScan.
Wu-Massacre is a collaboration studio album by American rappers and Wu-Tang Clan members Method Man, Ghostface Killah and Raekwon, under the group name Meth • Ghost • Rae, released March 30, 2010 on Def Jam Recordings. Production for the album was handled by several hip hop producers, including RZA, Allah Mathematics, Scram Jones, Emile, Ty Fyffe, BT and Digem Tracks Productions.
Student of the Game is the sixth studio album by American rapper N.O.R.E.. The album was released on April 16, 2013, by Thugged Out Militainment and eOne Music. The album features guest appearances from French Montana, 2 Chainz, Lil Wayne, Pusha T, Pharrell, Pete Rock, Havoc, Jeremih, Mick Jones, Large Professor, Swizz Beatz, Raekwon, Tech N9ne, Busta Rhymes and Scarface among others.
Excuse My French is the debut studio album by Moroccan-American rapper French Montana. It was released on May 21, 2013, by Coke Boys Records, Bad Boy Records, Maybach Music Group and Interscope Records. The album features guest appearances from Diddy, Nicki Minaj, Drake, Ace Hood, Lil Wayne, Birdman, The Weeknd, Rick Ross, 2 Chainz, Max B, Ne-Yo, Machine Gun Kelly, Raekwon, Scarface and Snoop Dogg, while the production was handled by Mike Will Made It, Jahlil Beats, Reefa, Rico Love, Lex Luger and Young Chop. The album was supported by three singles: "Pop That", "Freaks" and "Ain't Worried About Nothin'".
Wu Block is a collaborative studio album by American rappers Ghostface Killah and Sheek Louch. Louch announced the album in 2011, in an interview. The album was released on November 27, 2012, by E1 Music. The album features guest appearances from Raekwon, Jadakiss, Cappadonna, Method Man, Styles P, Masta Killa, GZA, Erykah Badu and Inspectah Deck.
This is the discography of American rapper Raekwon.
Lost Jewlry is the twelfth mixtape by American rapper and Wu-Tang Clan member Raekwon. It was released on January 15, 2013 for free. The mixtape features guest appearances from Faith Evans, Freddie Gibbs, Altrina Renee and Maino, and includes production from Scram Jones, Buckwild and more. It was released in promotion of his forthcoming studio album, F.I.L.A. .
Albert Einstein is the second and last collaborative studio album by American hip hop recording artist Prodigy of Mobb Deep and American record producer The Alchemist. The album was released on June 11, 2013, by Infamous Records. The album features guest appearances from Roc Marciano, Domo Genesis, The Alchemist, Havoc, Raekwon and Action Bronson.
A Better Tomorrow is the sixth studio album by American hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. The album was released on December 2, 2014, by Warner Bros. Records. The album was supported by the singles "Keep Watch", "Ron O'Neal" and "Ruckus in B Minor". A Better Tomorrow received generally mixed reviews from music critics. The album debuted at number 29 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 24,386 copies in its first week of release.
Extended Play is the fifth studio album by East Coast hip hop producer Statik Selektah. The album was released on June 18, 2013, by Duck Down Music Inc. and Showoff Records. The album features guest appearances from Action Bronson, Tony Touch, Raekwon, Joey Badass, Black Thought, N.O.R.E., Sean Price, Mac Miller, Mike Posner, Freddie Gibbs, Prodigy, Styles P, Bun B, Hit-Boy, Joell Ortiz, Evidence, Lecrae, Talib Kweli, and Flatbush Zombies among others.
"Wu-Tang Forever" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake from his third studio album Nothing Was the Same (2013). The song was released as the album's first promotional single on September 12, 2013. "Wu-Tang Forever" features a significant sample of "It's Yourz" by the Wu-Tang Clan. The song was produced by frequent collaborator Noah "40" Shebib. The song has since peaked at number 52 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Twelve Reasons to Die is the first collaborative studio album by American rapper Ghostface Killah and American composer Adrian Younge. It is a concept album based on a comic book of the same name. The album was executive-produced and narrated by RZA. It was released on April 16, 2013, by RZA's Soul Temple Records label and RED Distribution. It features guest appearances from Wu-Tang members Inspectah Deck, U-God, Masta Killa, and Cappadonna along with William Hart and Killa Sin.
Darryl Hill, better known by his stage name Cappadonna, is an American rapper. He is a member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan and is a member of the hip hop group Theodore Unit together with Ghostface Killah.
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